What are the responsibilities and job description for the Metering Technician position at City of Palo Alto?
The Department
The City of Palo Alto operates a full suite of municipal utility services, including electric, natural gas, wastewater collection, water, and fiber optics. Our organization is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and has a history of leading innovation on a local scale for positive global outcomes. Founded on the principles of delivering quality public services at an affordable rate for community members, the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is award-winning for reliability, safety, environmental sustainability, workforce development, and infrastructure system improvements. Join an inspiring team for a rewarding career!
Career Opportunity
The Electric Meter Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting of electric meters in both residential and commercial settings. This role plays a critical part in ensuring accurate metering for billing and system monitoring, while supporting the utility's goals for safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Technicians will perform a wide range of fieldwork, including new service installations, meter upgrades, removals, and exchanges. They will also respond to customer inquiries, identify tampering or irregular consumption patterns, and support the deployment and maintenance of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, safety-conscious, and able to work independently in various field conditions. They should have experience with electric meter types, basic electrical troubleshooting, and interpreting utility standards and service orders.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate possesses the following experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities:
BENEFITS: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click here.
COMPENSATION (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.
SCHEDULE: Monday thru Friday in-person. 9/80 Schedule (every other Friday off).
The City of Palo Alto operates a full suite of municipal utility services, including electric, natural gas, wastewater collection, water, and fiber optics. Our organization is located in the heart of Silicon Valley and has a history of leading innovation on a local scale for positive global outcomes. Founded on the principles of delivering quality public services at an affordable rate for community members, the City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) is award-winning for reliability, safety, environmental sustainability, workforce development, and infrastructure system improvements. Join an inspiring team for a rewarding career!
Career Opportunity
The Electric Meter Technician is responsible for the installation, maintenance, testing, and troubleshooting of electric meters in both residential and commercial settings. This role plays a critical part in ensuring accurate metering for billing and system monitoring, while supporting the utility's goals for safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Technicians will perform a wide range of fieldwork, including new service installations, meter upgrades, removals, and exchanges. They will also respond to customer inquiries, identify tampering or irregular consumption patterns, and support the deployment and maintenance of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems.
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, safety-conscious, and able to work independently in various field conditions. They should have experience with electric meter types, basic electrical troubleshooting, and interpreting utility standards and service orders.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate possesses the following experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- 2 years working for an electric utility
- Extensive electric metering experience
- Power Quality background
- Strong computer skills
- Confident and competent working in the field
- Ability to deal effectively and courteously with customers
- Ability to learn new software programs
- Ability to work well with others
- Journeyman electrician desirable
BENEFITS: Fantastic benefits package! To learn more, click here.
COMPENSATION (SEIU): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here.
SCHEDULE: Monday thru Friday in-person. 9/80 Schedule (every other Friday off).
This position is represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:
• Install, replace, remove, and test electric meters (single-phase and poly-phase)
• Perform field diagnostics and repairs to ensure meter accuracy and functionality
• Support AMI deployment and troubleshooting activities
• Verify and document meter readings and usage discrepancies
• Investigate high-bill complaints, tampering, or unauthorized use
• Work safely around energized equipment (600 volts or less) and follow established safety protocols
• Use handheld or mobile devices to process work orders and record data
• Communicate effectively with customers and utility personnel
• Install, replace, remove, and test electric meters (single-phase and poly-phase)
• Perform field diagnostics and repairs to ensure meter accuracy and functionality
• Support AMI deployment and troubleshooting activities
• Verify and document meter readings and usage discrepancies
• Investigate high-bill complaints, tampering, or unauthorized use
• Work safely around energized equipment (600 volts or less) and follow established safety protocols
• Use handheld or mobile devices to process work orders and record data
• Communicate effectively with customers and utility personnel
Full job description can be found here.
Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, which would typically be acquired through:
- Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade; and,
- Completion of an accredited apprentice program.
The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
Salary : $143,229 - $175,469